My wife, Liz, and I love to entertain and have been doing it for a long time. A lot of our friends ask, “how we do it and why don’t we open a restaurant.” We decided that we would rather be married to each other, than a restaurant. This site is meant to provide some ideas and instructions on how we do it. I love to cook and Liz likes to set the table(s) and arrange the flowers. She is also pretty good at selecting the wines.

As a couple we have switched roles; Liz still works and travels a bunch, I stay home and take care of her, the dog and our house here in Gambier, Ohio and our house in Rancho Mirage, California. I am also a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel. The fact that I love to cook does raise some eyebrows.

I started cooking when our first daughter arrived; it was a way to avoid changing diapers. I found out I liked the process and had some affinity for it. So for 35 years I’ve been cooking and Liz has been setting tables and selecting wines.

All of the recipes here have been done in our numerous home kitchens; even in poorly equipped beach cottages and ski condos. Our approach to entertaining is to keep it simple and relaxed. A lot of the recipes can be done ahead of time or finished outside on the grill, while you and your friends have drink in hand. We hope you find them easy and entertaining.

A note to the guys; don’t be put off or afraid to try some of these recipes. Think of it as building a deck or executing an amphibious operation (a bone to my Marine buddies.) Start with the objective and plan backwards. Assemble the tools and materials necessary then execute! Enjoy...